Patent classifications
B60R2300/103
System for identifying a trailer and for assisting a hitching process to a tractor machine
A trailer having a kingpin or having a drawbar for coupling a tractor unit on a coupling side of the trailer, wherein the trailer has a detectable pattern on its coupling side, and a tractor unit for coupling to a kingpin or a drawbar of a trailer, wherein the tractor unit has, for the identification of a trailer and/or for assisting a coupling process, in particular on a coupling side of the drawbar, a detection unit for detecting a detectable pattern.
Interior camera system for a self driving car
The technology provides an interior camera sensing system for self-driving vehicles. The sensor system includes image sensors and infrared illuminators to see the vehicle's cabin and storage areas in all ambient lighting conditions. The system can monitor the vehicle for safety purposes, to detect the cleanliness of the cabin and storage areas, as well as to detect whether packages or other objects have been inadvertently left in the vehicle. The cameras are arranged to focus on selected regions in the vehicle cabin and the system carries out certain actions in response to information evaluated for those regions. The interior space is divided into multiple zones assigned different coverage priorities. Regardless of vehicle size or configuration, certain actions are performed according to various ride checklists and the imagery detected by the interior cameras. The checklists include pre-ride, mid-ride, and post-ride checklists.
Automatic drive mode lighting systems and methods
Automatic drive mode lighting systems and methods are disclosed herein. An example method can include determining when a drive mode of a vehicle is an off-road mode, determining when a speed of the vehicle is below a speed threshold, determining when a location of the vehicle corresponds to an off-road location, and automatically activating off-road lighting for the vehicle when the drive mode is in an off-road mode, the speed is below the speed threshold, and the location corresponds to an off-road location.
WIRELESS CAMERA HUB SYSTEM
A system for capturing and displaying images may comprise a rearview assembly having WIFI capability; and a WIFI hub removably securable to a surface, the WIFI hub comprising at least one imager capable of capturing images of a scene. The WIFI hub may be capable of transmitting image data from the captured images to the rearview assembly. The rearview assembly may be capable of displaying images from the image data from the captured images.
Active infrared illumination for enhancing rear vision from a vehicle
An imaging assembly for use in a vehicle is disclosed. The imaging assembly may include an image sensor configured to capture image data and an electro-optic element configured to selectively control a range of wavelengths corresponding to light in a near infrared (NIR) range of light entering the image sensor. The electro-optic element may include a first portion configured to absorb the range of wavelengths entering the image sensor and a second portion configured to absorb the range of wavelengths entering the image sensor in a first state and to transmit the range of wavelengths entering the image sensor in a second state. The second portion may be electrically isolated from the first portion. A controller may be in communication with the image sensor and the electro-optic element. The controller may be operable to switch the second portion between the first state and the second state.
IR illuminator to avoid camera field-of-view
An IR illuminator for providing infrared light for a digital camera having a camera lens with a camera field of view, including at least two mounting substrates arranged adjacent to the digital camera, at least one LED mounted to each of the mounting substrates for radiating the infrared light, and a free form cover lens positioned to cover the at least one LED. The shape of the free form cover lens is such that an emission pattern of light radiation is emitted without entering into the camera lens. Two IR illuminators adjacent to the camera are tilted at an angle from the camera optical direction. The shape of the free form cover lens may be elliptical or toric.
Sensing and controlling states of locking mechanisms
An affixable device can include a locking mechanism, a force-limiting mechanism, and a sensing mechanism. The locking mechanism can include an engagement component configured to disable the locking mechanism. The force-limiting mechanism can be configured to limit a locking force of the locking mechanism. The sensing mechanism can be coupled to the engagement component, and can be configured to determine that the force-limiting mechanism has limited the locking force of the locking mechanism. In response to determining the force-limiting mechanism limiting the locking force, the sensing mechanism can cause the engagement component to disable the locking mechanism.
Replacement mirror system with IR LED overheating management
A camera mirror system for a vehicle includes, among other things, a camera that has a field of view, a display in communication with the camera that is configured to depict the field of view, and an infrared light-emitting diode (IR LED) that is configured to illuminate the field of view. The IR LED is configured to operate at a temperature. The system further includes a controller that is configured to provide at least one of a warning or an IR LED shut down command in response to the temperature exceeding a threshold.
Fiducial marker based field calibration of a device
A computer-implemented method of field calibrating a device is disclosed. In one example, a reference image is acquired, via an infrared camera, while the device is in a factory-calibrated state. The reference image measures a factory-calibrated spatial relationship of one or more infrared-visible fiducial markers of the device relative to the infrared camera while the device is in the factory-calibrated state. Later, a field image is acquired, via the infrared camera. The field image measures an updated spatial relationship of the one or more infrared-visible fiducial markers relative to the infrared camera. The device is field calibrated based on the reference image and the field image.
Vehicular vision system with infrared emitter synchronization
A vehicular vision system includes a camera having a field of view interior of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system, a plurality of infrared light emitters operable to illuminate a region at least partially within the field of view of the camera, and an electronic control unit having an image processor that processes image data captured by the camera. The camera captures frames of image data at a first rate, and infrared light emitters of the plurality of infrared light emitters are pulsed at a second rate. The first rate is different than the second rate. For a driving assist function of the vehicle, capture of frames of image data by the camera at the first rate is synchronized with pulsing of the infrared light emitters of the plurality of infrared light emitters at the second rate.